PROVO, Utah - Exploding for a season-high 15 runs, the University of San Francisco baseball team (13-12, 4-7 WCC) was firing on all cylinders offensively on Friday night as the Dons raced past BYU (10-19, 4-7 WCC), 15-5, at Miller Park to even their series with the Cougars.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Following a scoreless first inning from both teams, BYU got the scoring going as the Cougars tallied the first run of the ballgame on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead.
• In the next half inning, USF responded in a big way as the Dons erupted for five runs on four hits, which included a towering three-run blast off the bat of Christian Stapleton, to take a 5-1 advantage. After BYU answered with one run in the home half of the inning, the green and gold held a 5-2 lead through the first three innings complete.
• Although the Dons would have three players reach base in the fourth, USF could not capitalize, but Jesse Barron did his job on the other side as the right-hander blanked BYU in the bottom of the inning.
• Beginning the top of the fifth with a bang, Harris Williams III launched his third long ball of the year to make it 6-2 in favor of the Dons. Just a few batters later, Blake Atkins reached via a hit by pitch, which was followed by a walk from Blake Pitts. Cashing in to extend their advantage, Will Asby then bounced a two-run single through the right side of the infield to grow the USF lead to six, 8-2.
• Keeping close, BYU did not go down without a fight as the Cougars answered with three runs on three hits in their turn at the plate in the sixth to draw closer, 8-5.
• Similar to the third, USF blew the game open with another five-run inning in the seventh, which included a grand slam from Stapleton this time around. Additionally, Atkins also recorded an RBI single in the onslaught as the Dons led 13-5 at the end of seven.
• Continuing to fire on all cylinders, the green and gold added two more runs in the eighth, which came on an RBI double from Campagna and an RBI single from Williams III.
• Coming out of the bullpen, Will Hearn delivered to close out the contest as the lefty tossed his second scoreless appearance of the season in the ninth to help USF secure their second-largest victory of the year by a final score of 15-5.    

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Leading the charge, Stapleton finished 3-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBI, which are both career-highs. Additionally, the first baseman also scored two runs and drew one walk in the win on Friday night. With this outing, the Pebble Beach native now leads the WCC with 35 RBI on the season.
• Alongside Stapleton, DeMera logged his second four-hit performance of the year as the the junior finished 4-for-6 with three runs scored and one walk out of the leadoff spot. Notably, the San Mateo native is now batting a team-high .391 as he has reached base in 15 straight games heading into the series finale on Sunday.
• Picking up his third win of the campaign, Barron went 6.0 complete innings as he allowed four earned runs and five hits while tying his season-high by striking out nine batters. 

CATCHING UP WITH COACH DITOMA:
"After a loss, the starting pitcher the following day is the key to setting the tone and Jesse was in total control today. Stapleton and the rest of the offense did a great job of getting the lead and breaking the game wide open. It was a great response to last night's opener. We look forward to tomorrow with Adam Shew on the mound."
 
UP NEXT:
Game three of the series between the Dons and Cougars is scheduled for 12:00 pm PT/1:00 pm MT tomorrow, Saturday, Apr. 8. Live streaming and live statistics links are available via the team's schedule page.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF baseball program, be sure to follow @SFDonsBaseball on Twitter, @USFDonsBaseball on Instagram and @University.of.San.Francisco.Baseball on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge our department sponsor - San Francisco Toyota - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.